Improvement in devices for locking a series of drawers



C. B. PALMER. DEVICE Eon LOCKING A SERIES OF DRAWERS.

-No.173,661. Patented Feb. 15, 1876.

" WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEYS N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHDGRAFNER. WASHINGTON. D C

UNITED; STATES PATENT OFEIoE.

OORNELIIIS B. PALMER, OF SIITG SING, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICES FOR LOCKING SERIES OF DRAWERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 1 73,661, dated February 15, 1876; application filed January 22, 1876.

To all whom it may concern making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon:

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a plan view of a drawer of "my cabinet, and Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalwertical sectional view.

This invention has relation to improvements in means for simultaneously locking and unlocking a series of drawers in a cabinet or chest; and it consists in combining, with a vertically movable spring-actuated locking-rod for simultaneously locking and unlocking the drawers, semicircular slides for sustaining a hinged vertically-vibrating door, and actuating the said rod, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, the letter A indicates a double cabinetthat is, one containing two ranges ofdrawers, B, arranged in tiers,

side by side. In carrying out and illustrating my invention, I shall use this. double cabinet, but it maybe used with equally good results in connection with one containing a single or greaternumber of tiers The sides of this drawer are provided with 'longitudinal grooves receiving a correspond ingly-shaped tongue on the sides and intermediate vertical wall of the cabinet, thus,

allowing the said drawers to be readily opened and closed, as shown in Fig. 1. The outer ends of the front of these drawers are recessed and provided with a transverse notch, t", with which a lug, t", on a vertically-movable metallic rod, 0, arranged in guides at the sides of the cabinet, is adapted to engage, and when thusengaged will prevent the drawers from being opened. When this rod is raised the lugs will be simultaneously disengaged from notches 'i, and the drawers, one or all, may be opened.

When they are closed lugs z" will be forced to a reengagement with notches i by'the recoil of a coiled helical spring, 8, which had been compressed when the said rod was raised. Locking-rod O is raised or lowered to unlock or look the drawers automatically, in the following manner, to Wit:

The cabinet is provided with a verticallyvibrating hinged door, D, closing a compartment or compartments for holding stationery at the bottom -or lower portion thereof. This door is supported at each side by means of flat semicircular or curved metallic slides, E, working in a groove, 0, in a metallic plate, F, rigidly secured to the inside of the e ds of the cabinet. Upon the curved upper e ge of these slides a lug, n, or looking-rods 0, rest; consequently, when the door D is unlocked and drawn outward the said slides, resting upon fulcrum-plates F, will raise rod 0, and, disengaging lugs 2" simultaneously out of notches i in the drawers, will allow the latter to be opened, one, more, or all, at pleasure. When this door is closed the reverse action will take place, and the drawers being closed the recoil of spring S will force the lugs 'i' on the locking-rod into the notchest' on the drawers, thuseffectually and simultaneously fastening them. Door D being locked, it will look all the drawers, and, Without actual fracture of the latter, will render their opening or being opened impossible.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. In andevice for simultaneously looking and unlocking a set of drawers, the combination, with rod 0, having lugs i, and a spring, S, the hinged door D, plate F, slides E, and the notched drawer B, substantially as specified. I

2. In combination, the locking-rod 0, slides E, and hinged door D, combined and arranged substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

CORNELIUS B. PALMER. Witnesses:

J OHN GIBNEY,

JEREMIAH RYAN. 

